Cole Palmer Embraces Freedom Under Xabi Alonso at Chelsea
Cole Palmer says Xabi Alonso has ripped up the script for his role at Chelsea – and he is loving it.
The forward, who lit up Monday night’s 3-2 win over Fulham with a goal and an assist, revealed that Alonso has handed him licence to roam and create, a sharp break from the stricter demands of last season.
“He just said I'd have more freedom to drift about the pitch,” Palmer told Sky Sports, pointing to his strike against Fulham as the perfect example. “Last season, I wouldn't have even made that run because it's not a 'safe zone'. But he's saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do.”
That shift matters.
Palmer was Chelsea’s standout in his first year at the club, but the follow-up campaign bit back. Form dipped, fitness wobbled, and his momentum stalled badly enough that he missed out on England’s World Cup squad. From being the bright new face at Stamford Bridge, he suddenly looked stuck.
Alonso’s arrival has changed the mood.
The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid coach was appointed at the start of the summer after a chaotic season in which Chelsea limped to 10th in the Premier League and both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior lost their jobs. The club responded with another heavy investment in the squad, backing Alonso with the kind of attacking options that fit his front-foot ideas.
The headline addition was Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, a deal worth more than £100m to strengthen Chelsea’s attacking midfield. Rogers has slotted into a fluid trio with Joao Pedro and Palmer, a combination that has already sparked enough excitement among supporters to earn its own nickname.
Sections of the fanbase have dubbed them “JP Morgan” – a nod to Joao, Palmer and Rogers lining up together behind the striker.
Palmer is not sold.
“It's a rubbish name,” he laughed. “We need to come up with something better than that.”
What he does like is the blend. The roles are not rigid, the movement is constant, and the differences between the three give Alonso plenty of angles to attack from.
“I think we've got a different mix of qualities. Joao can do a bit of everything. Morgan's more physical and I'm more technical, so I think we've got a good balance.”
The early signs suggest that balance, and Alonso’s trust, are dragging Palmer back to his best – and possibly to a level he has not yet reached. The shackles are off. Now it is down to him to turn that freedom into a full season of damage.
